Obama: Russia Could Face 'Costs' Over Ukraine Actions

Posted:
03/12/2014 3:54 pm EDT
Updated:
03/12/2014 6:59 pm EDT

President Barack Obama pauses as he talks about the situation in Ukraine, Thursday, March 6, 2104, in the briefing room of the White House in Washington. The president said a referendum for Ukraine's Crimea region to separate and become part of Russia would violate international law. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) | ASSOCIATED PRESS

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Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) set up a final vote Thursday on a bill that would provide Ukraine with up to billion in loan guarantees and impose targeted sanctions against Russian officials.

Reid made the announcement Tuesday after dropping a controversial provision from the Senate bill that would have boosted the U.S. quota at the International Monetary Fund. Republicans in both chambers of Congress opposed the IMF reforms, which were specifically requested by the White House to increase Ukraine's borrowing capabilities at the institution.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said earlier Tuesday that Republicans would still want to vote on a number of amendments, but the IMF language was the major sticking point. Without it, the Ukraine aid package is expected to pass both the Senate and the House without much drama or delay.

Authorities in a pro-Russian separatist region of Moldova claim to have brought down a Ukrainian drone on a reconnaissance mission.

NovostiPMR, the news agency of Trans-Dniester says Tuesday that the region's intelligence agency downed the drone on March 23.

The region broke away from Moldova in 1990. There are 1,500 Russian troops stationed there guarding hundreds of tons of weapons.

According to the agency, the drone was "launched from Ukrainian territory by people close to the Ukrainian Security Service and the Defense Ministry."

It said the plane illegally crossed into Trans-Dniester violating its air space. It added that the authorities in the region reserved the right to use "all available methods" to defend the territory which is not internationally recognized but is supported by Russia.

Russian forces appeared to be attempting to take over the last military ship controlled by Ukraine in Crimea on Tuesday after a Ukrainian military spokesman reported explosions in its vicinity and helicopters approaching the vessel.

Russian forces armed with stun grenades and automatic weapons have seized ships and military bases from the last remaining Ukrainian troops in Crimea in recent days as part of Russia's largely bloodless annexation of the region.

Kiev, which calls Russia's annexation of Crimea illegal, ordered its remaining forces to withdraw for their own safety on Monday, but not all troops have yet left the Black Sea peninsula and some ships have been prevented from leaving.

"Around 1900 (1600 GMT) there were several explosions from the direction of the minesweeper Cherkasy in the Donuzlav bay," Ukrainian military spokesman Vladislav Seleznyov told Reuters.

"Some Mi-35 helicopter gunships were observed hovering in the area. Speedboats and a tug were seen approaching Cherkasy," he said.

On Monday Cherkasy attempted without success to break to the open sea through a blockade at the entrance to the inlet. The Russian navy blocked the route earlier this month by scuttling three hulks in the channel.

Seleznyov said he was unable to confirm whether Russian troops had boarded the ship.

Russia's military staged training exercises on Tuesday in Transdniestria, a breakaway sliver of Moldova that is a focus of tension following Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region.

NATO's top military commander said on Sunday he was worried that Russia might have its eye on Transdniestria, a largely Russian-speaking region that borders western Ukraine, after seizing Crimea, which has a narrow ethnic Russian majority.

The Interfax news agency quoted a spokesman for Russia's Western Military District, Colonel Oleg Kochetkov, as saying that Russian forces stationed in Transdniestria had "conducted an anti-terrorism drill and practiced operations to rebuff an attack on their military base".

Transdniestria, with a population of half a million, has run its own affairs since 1992 after fighting a brief war against the Moldovan government over fears that it might join Romania after the collapse of the Soviet Union, and Russia has a permanent garrison of peacekeepers there.

Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed, in something of a Shermanesque statement, that the country will not develop nuclear weapons, one day after the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs seized on a proposal by some Ukrainian MPs to leave the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.

"Ukraine has not planned, is not planning and is not going to plan to resume its nuclear status," a spokesman for the agency said at a press briefing.

Earlier this month, several opposition MPs introduced a draft bill to withdraw Ukraine from the NPT. Russia's Foreign Ministry seized on it, saying "the dysfunctional new Kiev authorities may pose a threat to the security of Ukrainian nuclear sites under the current Ukrainian circumstances," in a statement.
"We do not trust attempts of the Ukrainian delegate to dissociate from this position. The NPT is in serious danger."

Ukraine, which suddenly became the world's third-largest nuclear state after the collapse of the Soviet Union, gave its nuclear arsenal back to Russia for disposal under the 1994 Budapest Memorandum in exchange for security assurances from Russia that it would respect Ukraine's territorial integrity.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) may drop a controversial reform to the U.S. share at the International Monetary Fund from the Ukraine aid package, according to Senate leadership aides.

The provision was requested by President Barack Obama and Ukrainian leaders, but faces widespread opposition from Republicans. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Tuesday that his members would not support the aid bill unless the IMF language was dropped.

A Senate leadership aide said removing the provision is now "under consideration in order to move the bill." In exchange, Republicans would drop their demand to delay a Treasury Department rule that cracks down on the political activities of nonprofits, known as 501(c)(4)s.

The House of Representatives passed its own legislation providing aid to Ukraine earlier this month without the IMF reforms, and planned to move on a sanctions bill that also left the issue untouched. House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) has said boosting U.S. funds at the IMF has "nothing to do with Ukraine," and his aides indicated they would not have enough votes to move the Senate bill through the lower chamber in its current form.

The Obama administration and Senate Democrats have been making the case that ratifying the IMF reforms, which were agreed upon in 2010, is critical to Ukraine's borrowing capabilities in a time of crisis. Still, some House Democrats acknowledged that the White House was complicating the process by renewing debate over a contentious issue when providing aid expeditiously is of the utmost importance.

President Barack Obama dismissed the notion that former GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney was correct in saying that Russia was "our number one geopolitical foe" Tuesday, in a response to a question from Jonathan Karl of ABC News. He said that Russia was merely a "regional power" that was acting out of "weakness."

"Russia is a regional power that is threatening some of its immediate neighbors, not out of strength, but out of weakness. Ukraine has been a country in which Russia had enormous influence for decades, since the breakup of the Soviet Union, and we have considerable influence on our neighbors," he said. "We generally don't need to invade them in order to have a strong cooperative relationship with them."

At a press conference in Europe, U.S. President Barack Obama sidestepped a question on whether he "misread" Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying he wasn't so interested in his motivations.

"With respect to President Putin's motivation, I think there has been a lot of speculation. I am less interested in motivation and more interested in the facts and the principles that not only the United States but the entire international community are looking to uphold."

He added that the United States is "concerned" about further encroachment by Russia into Ukraine.

Ukraine, its economy seriously weakened by months of political turmoil and mismanagement, is negotiating with the International Monetary Fund for a loan package of -20 billion, its finance minister said on Tuesday.

The minister, Oleksander Shlapak, speaking to reporters before a government meeting, said the ministry foresaw continued slowdown and stagnation in the economy with it contracting by 3 per cent in 2014.

Referring to talks now going on with the IMF, he said: "We are successfully heading towards concluding a programme. I think we shall receive (what we seek). This sum is from 15 to 20 billion dollars."

Most Americans do not think that the United States has a responsibility to intervene in Ukraine after Russia annexed Crimea, a CBS News poll released Tuesday found. 61 percent think that the United States isn't obliged to do anything while 32 percent think it is. 65 percent -- including majorities of Democrats, Republicans and independents -- think that the U.S. should not provide military aid to Ukraine, which it has thus far refused.

Russian Deputy Economic Development Minister Andrei Klepach said Monday that capital flight will reach billion in first quarter 2014.

In comparison, capital flight for all of 2013 was just under billion. The minister also expected that growth for the first quarter will be "near zero."

"Unfortunately the investment slump is continuing. I'm not ready to say how long it will continue," he told reporters.

The rate of flight would be the highest since the 2008 financial crisis.

The forecast is yet another sign that the Crimean invasion is seriously damaging the Russian economy. The Russian stock index MICEX has dropped 13.2 percent on the year, compared to a 5.7 drop for the MSCI emerging market index.

The White House released a statement from the U.S. and Ukraine on nuclear proliferation today. After the fall of the Soviet Union, Ukraine was the third-largest nuclear weapons state. It gave up the weapons to Russia in the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, in exchange for security assurances from Russia.

Read the full statement:

On the occasion of the third Nuclear Security Summit in The Hague, the United States and Ukraine today reaffirm their strategic partnership and emphasize the important role of nuclear nonproliferation in that relationship. The United States values its 20-year partnership with Ukraine on these issues. Our nonproliferation partnership dates from Ukraine’s 1994 decision to remove all nuclear weapons from its territory and to accede to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons as a non-nuclear-weapon state. In the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, the United States, the Russian Federation, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland welcomed these Ukrainian actions, and they reaffirmed their commitment to Ukraine to respect the independence, sovereignty, and existing borders of Ukraine. The United States government reaffirms that commitment today to the new Ukrainian government and the people of Ukraine, including in Crimea. The United States government condemns Russia’s failure to abide by its commitments under the Budapest Memorandum with its unilateral military actions in Ukraine. Russia’s actions undermine the foundation of the global security architecture and endanger European peace and security. Ukraine and the United States emphasize that they will not recognize Russia's illegal attempt to annex Crimea. Crimea is an integral part of Ukraine. The United States will continue to help Ukraine affirm its sovereignty and territorial integrity. As the people of Ukraine work to restore unity, peace, and security to their country, the United States will stand by their side.
The United States and Ukraine reiterate their commitment to upholding their nuclear nonproliferation commitments. The United States recognizes the importance of the 2012 removal of all highly enriched uranium from Ukraine. This removal again highlighted Ukraine’s leadership in nuclear security and nonproliferation, as we collectively work together to secure the world’s vulnerable nuclear material. As part of its support for this effort, the United States committed in 2010 to work with Ukraine to construct a Neutron Source Facility at the Kharkiv Institute for Physics and Technology. This month construction of the Neutron Source Facility was completed. The facility, equipped with the most up-to-date technology to operate at the highest safety standards, provides Ukraine with new research capabilities and the ability to produce industrial and medical isotopes for the benefit of the Ukrainian people.

This state of the art facility is representative of the modern, European state the Government of Ukraine is committed to building. To build on this important cooperation, the United States will continue to provide technical support for the Neutron Source Facility as Ukraine completes the necessary final equipment installation, testing, and start-up to make the facility fully operational as soon as practical.

The United States and Ukraine intend to continue to partner to prevent nuclear proliferation by improving Ukraine’s ability to detect nuclear materials on its borders, to provide physical protection at sites with nuclear or radioactive materials, and to maintain an adequate export control system in order to help realize the goals of the Nuclear Security Summits.

President Barack Obama and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev spoke today at The Hague, according to a White House pool report. There were no formal remarks between the two men.

Nazarbayev said in a phone call that he "treats with understanding the position of Russia" on Crimea, which appears to be a very delicate diplomatic turn of phrase. Some have speculated of a Crimean-style scenario in Kazakhstan, which has a large minority of Russian speakers.

A joint statement between the two leaders contained no mention of Crimea, instead focusing on nonproliferation.

WASHINGTON, March 24 (Reuters) - A bill providing economic assistance to Ukraine and imposing sanctions over Russia's seizure of Crimea cleared a procedural hurdle in the U.S. Senate on Monday, as backers attempted to win passage of the legislation later this week.

By a vote of 78-17, the Senate laid the groundwork for debating a bill that would back a billion loan guarantee for the government in Kiev, provide 0 million in aid for Ukraine and neighboring countries and require sanctions on Russians and Ukrainians responsible for corruption, human rights abuses or undermining stability in Ukraine.

Hague said the decision to hold the G8 meeting without Russia this year is "of course a huge blow to the G8, it means there is no G8 this year. The president of the United States was very clear in the meeting that it will then be hard to revive that in the immediate future."

Ukraine is hoping the United Nations General Assembly will adopt a resolution later this week reaffirming the country's unity and territorial integrity and underscoring that the referendum in Crimea that led to its annexation by Russia "has no validity."

The draft resolution, circulated Monday to the 193 assembly members and obtained by The Associated Press, never mentions Russia by name but calls on all countries not to recognize "any alteration of the status" of Crimea.

It also urges all parties to immediately pursue the peaceful resolution of the situation in Ukraine and exercise restraint.

The resolution is expected to be put to a vote at a General Assembly meeting on Thursday.

Unlike the Security Council, where veto-wielding Russia has blocked any action on Ukraine, the General Assembly has no vetoes.

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 02: Heavily-armed troops displaying no identifying insignia and local pro-Russian militants stand guard outside a local government building on March 2, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. The new government of Ukraine has appealed to the United Nations Security Council for help against growing Russian intervention in Crimea, where thousands of Russian troops reportedly arrived in recent days at Russian military bases there and also occupy key government and other installations. World leaders are scrambling to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to refrain from further escalation in Ukraine. Ukraine has put its armed forces on combat alert. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 02: Heavily-armed troops displaying no identifying insignia and who were mingling with local pro-Russian militants stand guard outside a local government building on March 2, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. The new government of Ukraine has appealed to the United Nations Security Council for help against growing Russian intervention in Crimea, where thousands of Russian troops reportedly arrived in recent days at Russian military bases there and also occupy key government and other installations. World leaders are scrambling to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to refrain from further escalation in Ukraine. Ukraine has put its armed forces on combat alert. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 02: Pro-Russian militants station themselves behind a row of shields near a local government building and a statue of Lenin on March 2, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. The new government of Ukraine has appealed to the United Nations Security Council for help against growing Russian intervention in Crimea, where thousands of Russian troops reportedly arrived in recent days at Russian military bases there and also occupy key government and other installations. World leaders are scrambling to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to refrain from further escalation in Ukraine. Ukraine has put its armed forces on combat alert. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 02: Pro-Russian militants station themselves behind a row of shields near a local government building and a statue of Lenin on March 2, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. The new government of Ukraine has appealed to the United Nations Security Council for help against growing Russian intervention in Crimea, where thousands of Russian troops reportedly arrived in recent days at Russian military bases there and also occupy key government and other installations. World leaders are scrambling to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to refrain from further escalation in Ukraine. Ukraine has put its armed forces on combat alert. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 02: Heavily-armed troops displaying no identifying insignia and who were mingling with local pro-Russian militants stand guard outside a local government building on March 2, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. The new government of Ukraine has appealed to the United Nations Security Council for help against growing Russian intervention in Crimea, where thousands of Russian troops reportedly arrived in recent days at Russian military bases there and also occupy key government and other installations. World leaders are scrambling to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to refrain from further escalation in Ukraine. Ukraine has put its armed forces on combat alert. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 02: Heavily-armed troops displaying no identifying insignia and who were mingling with local pro-Russian militants stand guard outside a local government building on March 2, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. The new government of Ukraine has appealed to the United Nations Security Council for help against growing Russian intervention in Crimea, where thousands of Russian troops reportedly arrived in recent days at Russian military bases there and also occupy key government and other installations. World leaders are scrambling to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to refrain from further escalation in Ukraine. Ukraine has put its armed forces on combat alert. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 02: Pro-Russian militants, including one kissing a religious icon as he takes up his position, station themselves behind a row of shields near a local government building also guarded by heavily-armed troops on March 2, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. The new government of Ukraine has appealed to the United Nations Security Council for help against growing Russian intervention in Crimea, where thousands of Russian troops reportedly arrived in recent days at Russian military bases there and also occupy key government and other installations. World leaders are scrambling to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to refrain from further escalation in Ukraine. Ukraine has put its armed forces on combat alert. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 02: Pro-Russian militants station themselves behind a row of shields near a local government building also guarded by heavily-armed troops on March 2, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. The new government of Ukraine has appealed to the United Nations Security Council for help against growing Russian intervention in Crimea, where thousands of Russian troops reportedly arrived in recent days at Russian military bases there and also occupy key government and other installations. World leaders are scrambling to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to refrain from further escalation in Ukraine. Ukraine has put its armed forces on combat alert. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 02: Pro-Russian militants station themselves behind a row of shields near a local government building also guarded by heavily-armed troops on March 2, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. The new government of Ukraine has appealed to the United Nations Security Council for help against growing Russian intervention in Crimea, where thousands of Russian troops reportedly arrived in recent days at Russian military bases there and also occupy key government and other installations. World leaders are scrambling to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to refrain from further escalation in Ukraine. Ukraine has put its armed forces on combat alert. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 02: Pro-Russian militants station themselves behind a row of shields near a local government building also guarded by heavily-armed troops on March 2, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. The new government of Ukraine has appealed to the United Nations Security Council for help against growing Russian intervention in Crimea, where thousands of Russian troops reportedly arrived in recent days at Russian military bases there and also occupy key government and other installations. World leaders are scrambling to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to refrain from further escalation in Ukraine. Ukraine has put its armed forces on combat alert. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 02: Pro-Russian militants station themselves behind a row of shields near a local government building and a statue of Lenin on March 2, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. The new government of Ukraine has appealed to the United Nations Security Council for help against growing Russian intervention in Crimea, where thousands of Russian troops reportedly arrived in recent days at Russian military bases there and also occupy key government and other installations. World leaders are scrambling to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to refrain from further escalation in Ukraine. Ukraine has put its armed forces on combat alert. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 02: Pro-Russian militants station themselves behind a row of shields near a local government building and a statue of Lenin on March 2, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. The new government of Ukraine has appealed to the United Nations Security Council for help against growing Russian intervention in Crimea, where thousands of Russian troops reportedly arrived in recent days at Russian military bases there and also occupy key government and other installations. World leaders are scrambling to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to refrain from further escalation in Ukraine. Ukraine has put its armed forces on combat alert. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 02: Pro-Russian militants station themselves behind a row of shields near a local government building and a statue of Lenin on March 2, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. The new government of Ukraine has appealed to the United Nations Security Council for help against growing Russian intervention in Crimea, where thousands of Russian troops reportedly arrived in recent days at Russian military bases there and also occupy key government and other installations. World leaders are scrambling to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to refrain from further escalation in Ukraine. Ukraine has put its armed forces on combat alert. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Unidentified armed individuals guard the Crimean Parliament building in Simferopol, the administrative center of Crimea, on March 1, 2014. Russia's parliament on March 1 gave President Vladimir Putin the go-ahead to send troops into Ukraine, despite a warning from Washington that such a deployment would results in 'costs' for Moscow. The stark escalation of the ex-Soviet country's three-month political crisis came amid growing instability in Ukraine's predominantly Russian peninsula of Crimea that has housed Kremlin navies for nearly 250 years. AFP PHOTO/ GENYA SAVILOV (Photo credit should read GENYA SAVILOV/AFP/Getty Images)

Pro-Russian activists wave a giant Russian flag as they rally in Simferopol, the administrative center of Crimea, on March 1, 2014. Russia's parliament on March 1 gave President Vladimir Putin the go-ahead to send troops into Ukraine, despite a warning from Washington that such a deployment would results in 'costs' for Moscow. The stark escalation of the ex-Soviet country's three-month political crisis came amid growing instability in Ukraine's predominantly Russian peninsula of Crimea that has housed Kremlin navies for nearly 250 years. AFP PHOTO/ GENYA SAVILOV (Photo credit should read GENYA SAVILOV/AFP/Getty Images)

A pro-Russian activist holds a Russian flag during a rally in Simferopol, the administrative center of Crimea, on March 1, 2014. Russia's parliament on March 1 gave President Vladimir Putin the go-ahead to send troops into Ukraine, despite a warning from Washington that such a deployment would results in 'costs' for Moscow. The stark escalation of the ex-Soviet country's three-month political crisis came amid growing instability in Ukraine's predominantly Russian peninsula of Crimea that has housed Kremlin navies for nearly 250 years. AFP PHOTO/ GENYA SAVILOV (Photo credit should read GENYA SAVILOV/AFP/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia maintain watch in a street in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Similarly dressed soldiers stationed themselves around the Crimean Parliament building earlier in the day in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the city, which is the Crimean capital. The day before unidentified soldiers occupied Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia maintain watch in a street in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Similarly dressed soldiers stationed themselves around the Crimean Parliament building earlier in the day in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the city, which is the Crimean capital. The day before unidentified soldiers occupied Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: A young man carrying flowers confronts heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia in a street in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Similarly dressed soldiers stationed themselves around the Crimean Parliament building earlier in the day in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the city, which is the Crimean capital. The day before unidentified soldiers occupied Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: People look at a heavily-armed soldier displaying no identifying insignia in a street in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Similarly dressed soldiers stationed themselves around the Crimean Parliament building earlier in the day in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the city, which is the Crimean capital. The day before unidentified soldiers occupied Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: A young woman walks past heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia in a street in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Similarly dressed soldiers stationed themselves around the Crimean Parliament building earlier in the day in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the city, which is the Crimean capital. The day before unidentified soldiers occupied Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: A young man carrying flowers confronts heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia in a street in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Similarly dressed soldiers stationed themselves around the Crimean Parliament building earlier in the day in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the city, which is the Crimean capital. The day before unidentified soldiers occupied Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: A young man carrying flowers confronts heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia in a street in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Similarly dressed soldiers stationed themselves around the Crimean Parliament building earlier in the day in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the city, which is the Crimean capital. The day before unidentified soldiers occupied Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Pro-Russian sympathizers chanting 'Russia, Russia! Simferopol, Simferopol! Sevastopol, Sevastopol! Berkut, Berkut!' (Berkut is the elite paramilitary unit recently disbanded by the new Ukrainian government and responsible for many of the deaths during violent clahes recently in Kiev) hold up a giant Russian flag as they march in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Earlier in the day heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia took up positions around the Crimean Parliament and elsewehere in the city center in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the Crimean capital. The new pro-Russian prime minister of Crimea, Sergei Aksenov, announced that he has taken control of Crimean military and security and appealed to Russia for help in maintaining peace in Crimea. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: A young man carrying flowers who moments before had confronted heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia waved goodbye to them in a street in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Similarly dressed soldiers stationed themselves around the Crimean Parliament building earlier in the day in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the city, which is the Crimean capital. The day before unidentified soldiers occupied Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia maintain watch in a street in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Similarly dressed soldiers stationed themselves around the Crimean Parliament building earlier in the day in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the city, which is the Crimean capital. The day before unidentified soldiers occupied Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia maintain watch in a street in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Similarly dressed soldiers stationed themselves around the Crimean Parliament building earlier in the day in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the city, which is the Crimean capital. The day before unidentified soldiers occupied Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: A man wearing a scarf and jacket in the blue and yellow of the Ukrainian flag walks past heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia in a street in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Similarly dressed soldiers stationed themselves around the Crimean Parliament building earlier in the day in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the city, which is the Crimean capital. The day before unidentified soldiers occupied Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: People walk past heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia in a street in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Similarly dressed soldiers stationed themselves around the Crimean Parliament building earlier in the day in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the city, which is the Crimean capital. The day before unidentified soldiers occupied Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia maintain watch in a street as people walk past in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Similarly dressed soldiers stationed themselves around the Crimean Parliament building earlier in the day in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the city, which is the Crimean capital. The day before unidentified soldiers occupied Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia maintain watch in a street as people walk past in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Similarly dressed soldiers stationed themselves around the Crimean Parliament building earlier in the day in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the city, which is the Crimean capital. The day before unidentified soldiers occupied Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia maintain watch in a street in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Similarly dressed soldiers stationed themselves around the Crimean Parliament building earlier in the day in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the city, which is the Crimean capital. The day before unidentified soldiers occupied Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: A soldier displaying no identifying insignia carries a loaded, heavy machine gun as people walk past in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Similarly dressed soldiers stationed themselves around the Crimean Parliament building earlier in the day in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the city, which is the Crimean capital. The day before unidentified soldiers occupied Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Unidentified armed individuals guard the Crimean Parliament building in Simferopol, the administrative center of Crimea, on March 1, 2014. Russia's parliament on March 1 gave President Vladimir Putin the go-ahead to send troops into Ukraine, despite a warning from Washington that such a deployment would results in 'costs' for Moscow. The stark escalation of the ex-Soviet country's three-month political crisis came amid growing instability in Ukraine's predominantly Russian peninsula of Crimea that has housed Kremlin navies for nearly 250 years. AFP PHOTO/ GENYA SAVILOV (Photo credit should read GENYA SAVILOV/AFP/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia maintain watch in a street as people walk past in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Similarly dressed soldiers stationed themselves around the Crimean Parliament building earlier in the day in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the city, which is the Crimean capital. The day before unidentified soldiers occupied Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia maintain watch in a street as people walk past in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Similarly dressed soldiers stationed themselves around the Crimean Parliament building earlier in the day in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the city, which is the Crimean capital. The day before unidentified soldiers occupied Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: People walk past heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia in a street in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Similarly dressed soldiers stationed themselves around the Crimean Parliament building earlier in the day in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the city, which is the Crimean capital. The day before unidentified soldiers occupied Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: A young woman walks past heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia in a street in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Similarly dressed soldiers stationed themselves around the Crimean Parliament building earlier in the day in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the city, which is the Crimean capital. The day before unidentified soldiers occupied Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia maintain watch in a street in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Similarly dressed soldiers stationed themselves around the Crimean Parliament building earlier in the day in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the city, which is the Crimean capital. The day before unidentified soldiers occupied Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Heavily-armed soldiers, including one loading bullets into his heavy machine gun, displaying no identifying insignia maintain watch in a street in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Similarly dressed soldiers stationed themselves around the Crimean Parliament building earlier in the day in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the city, which is the Crimean capital. The day before unidentified soldiers occupied Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Pro-Russian sympathizers chanting 'Russia, Russia! Simferopol, Simferopol! Sevastopol, Sevastopol! Berkut, Berkut!' (Berkut is the elite paramilitary unit recently disbanded by the new Ukrainian government and responsible for many of the deaths during violent clahes recently in Kiev) hold up a giant Russian flag as they march in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Earlier in the day heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia took up positions around the Crimean Parliament and elsewehere in the city center in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the Crimean capital. The new pro-Russian prime minister of Crimea, Sergei Aksenov, announced that he has taken control of Crimean military and security and appealed to Russia for help in maintaining peace in Crimea. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Pro-Russian sympathizers, including one man holding a sign that referring to the USA and fascism, attend an anti-American rally hours after heavily-armed, unidentifed soldiers took up positions around the nearby Crimean Parliament on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. The soldiers' arrival comes the day after soldiers in similar uniforms stationed themselves at Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Pro-Russian sympathizers chanting 'Russia, Russia! Simferopol, Simferopol! Sevastopol, Sevastopol! Berkut, Berkut!' (Berkut is the elite paramilitary unit recently disbanded by the new Ukrainian government and responsible for many of the deaths during violent clahes recently in Kiev) hold up a giant Russian flag as they march in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Earlier in the day heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia took up positions around the Crimean Parliament and elsewehere in the city center in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the Crimean capital. The new pro-Russian prime minister of Crimea, Sergei Aksenov, announced that he has taken control of Crimean military and security and appealed to Russia for help in maintaining peace in Crimea. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Unidentified masked individuals throw a concrete block through a window as they storm the Trade Union building in Simferopol, the administrative center of Crimea, on March 1, 2014. Russia's parliament on March 1 gave President Vladimir Putin the go-ahead to send troops into Ukraine, despite a warning from Washington that such a deployment would results in 'costs' for Moscow. The stark escalation of the ex-Soviet country's three-month political crisis came amid growing instability in Ukraine's predominantly Russian peninsula of Crimea that has housed Kremlin navies for nearly 250 years. AFP PHOTO/ GENYA SAVILOV (Photo credit should read GENYA SAVILOV/AFP/Getty Images)

Unidentified masked individuals hold a Russian flag as they block the Trade Union building in Simferopol, the administrative center of Crimea, on March 1, 2014. Russia's parliament on March 1 gave President Vladimir Putin the go-ahead to send troops into Ukraine, despite a warning from Washington that such a deployment would results in 'costs' for Moscow. The stark escalation of the ex-Soviet country's three-month political crisis came amid growing instability in Ukraine's predominantly Russian peninsula of Crimea that has housed Kremlin navies for nearly 250 years. AFP PHOTO/ GENYA SAVILOV (Photo credit should read GENYA SAVILOV/AFP/Getty Images)

Unidentified masked individuals hold a Russian flag as they block the Trade Union building in Simferopol, the administrative center of Crimea, on March 1, 2014. Russia's parliament on March 1 gave President Vladimir Putin the go-ahead to send troops into Ukraine, despite a warning from Washington that such a deployment would results in 'costs' for Moscow. The stark escalation of the ex-Soviet country's three-month political crisis came amid growing instability in Ukraine's predominantly Russian peninsula of Crimea that has housed Kremlin navies for nearly 250 years. AFP PHOTO/ GENYA SAVILOV (Photo credit should read GENYA SAVILOV/AFP/Getty Images)

Pro-Russian activists wave a giant Russian flag near a statue of Lenin as they rally in Simferopol, the administrative center of Crimea, on March 1, 2014. Russia's parliament on March 1 gave President Vladimir Putin the go-ahead to send troops into Ukraine, despite a warning from Washington that such a deployment would results in 'costs' for Moscow. The stark escalation of the ex-Soviet country's three-month political crisis came amid growing instability in Ukraine's predominantly Russian peninsula of Crimea that has housed Kremlin navies for nearly 250 years. AFP PHOTO/ GENYA SAVILOV (Photo credit should read GENYA SAVILOV/AFP/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Pro-Russian sympathizers chanting 'Russia, Russia! Simferopol, Simferopol! Sevastopol, Sevastopol! Berkut, Berkut!' (Berkut is the elite paramilitary unit recently disbanded by the new Ukrainian government and responsible for many of the deaths during violent clahes recently in Kiev) hold up a giant Russian flag as they march in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Earlier in the day heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia took up positions around the Crimean Parliament and elsewehere in the city center in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the Crimean capital. The new pro-Russian prime minister of Crimea, Sergei Aksenov, announced that he has taken control of Crimean military and security and appealed to Russia for help in maintaining peace in Crimea. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Pro-Russian activists hold a giant Russian flag near a statue of Lenin as they rally in Simferopol, the administrative center of Crimea, on March 1, 2014. Russia's parliament on March 1 gave President Vladimir Putin the go-ahead to send troops into Ukraine, despite a warning from Washington that such a deployment would results in 'costs' for Moscow. The stark escalation of the ex-Soviet country's three-month political crisis came amid growing instability in Ukraine's predominantly Russian peninsula of Crimea that has housed Kremlin navies for nearly 250 years. AFP PHOTO/ GENYA SAVILOV (Photo credit should read GENYA SAVILOV/AFP/Getty Images)

Pro-Russian activists wave a giant Russian flag as they rally in Simferopol, the administrative center of Crimea, on March 1, 2014. Russia's parliament on March 1 gave President Vladimir Putin the go-ahead to send troops into Ukraine, despite a warning from Washington that such a deployment would results in 'costs' for Moscow. The stark escalation of the ex-Soviet country's three-month political crisis came amid growing instability in Ukraine's predominantly Russian peninsula of Crimea that has housed Kremlin navies for nearly 250 years. AFP PHOTO/ GENYA SAVILOV (Photo credit should read GENYA SAVILOV/AFP/Getty Images)

A pro-Russian activist holds part of a giant Russian flag near a statue of Lenin during a rally in Simferopol, the administrative center of Crimea, on March 1, 2014. Russia's parliament on March 1 gave President Vladimir Putin the go-ahead to send troops into Ukraine, despite a warning from Washington that such a deployment would results in 'costs' for Moscow. The stark escalation of the ex-Soviet country's three-month political crisis came amid growing instability in Ukraine's predominantly Russian peninsula of Crimea that has housed Kremlin navies for nearly 250 years. AFP PHOTO/ GENYA SAVILOV (Photo credit should read GENYA SAVILOV/AFP/Getty Images)

A pro-Russian activist holds a Russian flag during a rally in Simferopol, the administrative center of Crimea, on March 1, 2014. Russia's parliament on March 1 gave President Vladimir Putin the go-ahead to send troops into Ukraine, despite a warning from Washington that such a deployment would results in 'costs' for Moscow. The stark escalation of the ex-Soviet country's three-month political crisis came amid growing instability in Ukraine's predominantly Russian peninsula of Crimea that has housed Kremlin navies for nearly 250 years. AFP PHOTO/ GENYA SAVILOV (Photo credit should read GENYA SAVILOV/AFP/Getty Images)

Pro-Russian activists hold a giant Russian flag as they rally in Simferopol, the administrative center of Crimea, on March 1, 2014. Russia's parliament on March 1 gave President Vladimir Putin the go-ahead to send troops into Ukraine, despite a warning from Washington that such a deployment would results in 'costs' for Moscow. The stark escalation of the ex-Soviet country's three-month political crisis came amid growing instability in Ukraine's predominantly Russian peninsula of Crimea that has housed Kremlin navies for nearly 250 years. AFP PHOTO/ GENYA SAVILOV (Photo credit should read GENYA SAVILOV/AFP/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Two young women sit in a shop that sells evening gowns as heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia stand outside in a street in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Similarly dressed soldiers stationed themselves around the Crimean Parliament building earlier in the day in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the city, which is the Crimean capital. The day before unidentified soldiers occupied Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Pro-Russian activists wave Russian flags as they demonstrate in Simferopol, the administrative center of Crimea, on March 1, 2014. Russia's parliament on March 1 gave President Vladimir Putin the go-ahead to send troops into Ukraine, despite a warning from Washington that such a deployment would results in 'costs' for Moscow. The stark escalation of the ex-Soviet country's three-month political crisis came amid growing instability in Ukraine's predominantly Russian peninsula of Crimea that has housed Kremlin navies for nearly 250 years. AFP PHOTO/ GENYA SAVILOV (Photo credit should read GENYA SAVILOV/AFP/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Pro-Russian sympathizers chanting 'Russia, Russia! Simferopol, Simferopol! Sevastopol, Sevastopol! Berkut, Berkut!' (Berkut is the elite paramilitary unit recently disbanded by the new Ukrainian government and responsible for many of the deaths during violent clahes recently in Kiev) wave Russian flags as they march in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Earlier in the day heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia took up positions around the Crimean Parliament and elsewehere in the city center in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the Crimean capital. The new pro-Russian prime minister of Crimea, Sergei Aksenov, announced that he has taken control of Crimean military and security and appealed to Russia for help in maintaining peace in Crimea. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Pro-Russian sympathizers chanting 'Russia, Russia! Simferopol, Simferopol! Sevastopol, Sevastopol! Berkut, Berkut!' (Berkut is the elite paramilitary unit recently disbanded by the new Ukrainian government and responsible for many of the deaths during violent clahes recently in Kiev) hold up a giant Russian flag as they march in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Earlier in the day heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia took up positions around the Crimean Parliament and elsewehere in the city center in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the Crimean capital. The new pro-Russian prime minister of Crimea, Sergei Aksenov, announced that he has taken control of Crimean military and security and appealed to Russia for help in maintaining peace in Crimea. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Pro-Russian sympathizers chanting 'Russia, Russia! Simferopol, Simferopol! Sevastopol, Sevastopol! Berkut, Berkut!' (Berkut is the elite paramilitary unit recently disbanded by the new Ukrainian government and responsible for many of the deaths during violent clahes recently in Kiev) hold up a giant Russian flag as they march in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Earlier in the day heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia took up positions around the Crimean Parliament and elsewehere in the city center in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the Crimean capital. The new pro-Russian prime minister of Crimea, Sergei Aksenov, announced that he has taken control of Crimean military and security and appealed to Russia for help in maintaining peace in Crimea. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Pro-Russian sympathizers, including one woman holding a sign that reads: 'The time has come to return my name! I am Russia. And not Ukraine!', hold up a giant Russian flag as they march in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Earlier in the day heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia took up positions around the Crimean Parliament and elsewehere in the city center in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the Crimean capital. The new pro-Russian prime minister of Crimea, Sergei Aksenov, announced that he has taken control of Crimean military and security and appealed to Russia for help in maintaining peace in Crimea. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Pro-Russian sympathizers chanting 'Russia, Russia! Simferopol, Simferopol! Sevastopol, Sevastopol! Berkut, Berkut!' (Berkut is the elite paramilitary unit recently disbanded by the new Ukrainian government and responsible for many of the deaths during violent clahes recently in Kiev) hold up a giant Russian flag as they march past the occupied Crimean Parliament building on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Earlier in the day heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia took up positions around the Crimean Parliament and elsewehere in the city center in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the Crimean capital. The new pro-Russian prime minister of Crimea, Sergei Aksenov, announced that he has taken control of Crimean military and security and appealed to Russia for help in maintaining peace in Crimea. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Pro-Russian sympathizers display the colours of the Russian flag as they march in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Earlier in the day heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia took up positions around the Crimean Parliament and elsewehere in the city center in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the Crimean capital. The new pro-Russian prime minister of Crimea, Sergei Aksenov, announced that he has taken control of Crimean military and security and appealed to Russia for help in maintaining peace in Crimea. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Pro-Russian sympathizers chanting 'Russia, Russia! Simferopol, Simferopol! Sevastopol, Sevastopol! Berkut, Berkut!' (Berkut is the elite paramilitary unit recently disbanded by the new Ukrainian government and responsible for many of the deaths during violent clahes recently in Kiev) hold up a giant Russian flag as they march in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Earlier in the day heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia took up positions around the Crimean Parliament and elsewehere in the city center in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the Crimean capital. The new pro-Russian prime minister of Crimea, Sergei Aksenov, announced that he has taken control of Crimean military and security and appealed to Russia for help in maintaining peace in Crimea. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Pro-Russian sympathizers chanting 'Russia, Russia! Simferopol, Simferopol! Sevastopol, Sevastopol! Berkut, Berkut!' (Berkut is the elite paramilitary unit recently disbanded by the new Ukrainian government and responsible for many of the deaths during violent clahes recently in Kiev) hold up a giant Russian flag as they march in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Earlier in the day heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia took up positions around the Crimean Parliament and elsewehere in the city center in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the Crimean capital. The new pro-Russian prime minister of Crimea, Sergei Aksenov, announced that he has taken control of Crimean military and security and appealed to Russia for help in maintaining peace in Crimea. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Pro-Russian sympathizers display the colours of the Russian flag as they march in the city center on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Earlier in the day heavily-armed soldiers displaying no identifying insignia took up positions around the Crimean Parliament and elsewehere in the city center in what seems to be a growing military occupation of the Crimean capital. The new pro-Russian prime minister of Crimea, Sergei Aksenov, announced that he has taken control of Crimean military and security and appealed to Russia for help in maintaining peace in Crimea. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: A heavily-armed soldier without identifying insignia guards the Crimean parliament building shortly after several dozen soldiers took up positions there on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. The soldiers' arrival comes the day after soldiers in similar uniforms stationed themselves at Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Heavily-armed soldiers without identifying insignia guard the Crimean parliament building shortly after taking up positions there on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. The soldiers' arrival comes the day after soldiers in similar uniforms stationed themselves at Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Soldiers without identifying insignia man machine guns outside the Crimean parliament building shortly after several dozen soldiers took up positions there on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. The soldiers' arrival comes the day after soldiers in similar uniforms stationed themselves at Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Heavily-armed soldiers without identifying insignia and pro-Russian militants guard the Crimean parliament building on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. The soldiers reportedly moved in and blocked off the Parliament only a short time before, the day after soldiers in similar uniforms stationed themselves at Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Heavily-armed soldiers without identifying insignia guard the Crimean parliament building after taking up positions there earlier in the day on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. The soldiers' arrival comes the day after soldiers in similar uniforms stationed themselves at Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Heavily-armed soldiers without identifying insignia guard the Crimean parliament building next to a sign that reads: 'Crimea Russia' after taking up positions there earlier in the day on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. The soldiers' arrival comes the day after soldiers in similar uniforms stationed themselves at Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Heavily-armed soldiers without identifying insignia guard the Crimean parliament building shortly after taking up positions there on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. The soldiers' arrival comes the day after soldiers in similar uniforms stationed themselves at Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: Heavily-armed soldiers without identifying insignia and pro-Russian militants guard the Crimean parliament building on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. The soldiers reportedly moved in and blocked off the Parliament only a short time before, the day after soldiers in similar uniforms stationed themselves at Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 01: A heavily-armed soldier without identifying insignia guards the Crimean parliament building shortly after several dozen soldiers took up positions there on March 1, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. The soldiers' arrival comes the day after soldiers in similar uniforms stationed themselves at Simferopol International Airport and Russian soldiers occupied the airport at nearby Sevastapol in moves that are raising tensions between Russia and the new Kiev government. Crimea has a majority Russian population and armed, pro-Russian groups have occupied government buildings in Simferopol. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)